Improvement in reefing- fore-and-aft sails



s? di 6? I "y @timed 5mm @time @itung a t W l m *er sa ROBERT CHAMBERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent No. 88,543, dated April 6, 1869. I

IMPROVEMENT IN REEFING roRn-AND-AFT sains.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern .Be it known that I, ROBERT CHAMBERS, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful improvement in Apparatus for Reeng Fore-andAft Sails; and I do declare that the following isa true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked t ereon, and being a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is la perspective view of my apparatus attached to the main-sail of a vessel, which is partially in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the boom and its attachments.

, Figure 3 is a front View of the guide to the after leachof the sail.

Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus for winding up `or rolling up the sleeveattached to the bottom of the sail. l

Like letters indicate like parts in each figure.

'lthe nature of this invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for reeling fore-Vand-aft sails, so constructed that but little labor is required to perform the operation, which may easily and safely be done in all weather by a small number of meu. y

The invention consists of a shaft secured to and extending the whole length of the boom, the inner end of said shaft being secured to'the jaw of the boom, which may be curved upon the inside, where it grasps the mast, with metal, if thought expedient, in order to strengthen the boom, and more securely hold the end of the shaft. The outer end of said 'shaft passes through and is secured to a plate secured at the outer end of the boom. Upon this shaft is sleeved a tube, to which is secured the bottom ofthe sail. This tube is provided at its end, near the mast, with a suitable geared wheel, and other appliances, for giving a rotary motion to said sleeve or tube, by means of which the sail is wound upon it, when the throat and peak-hal yards are slackened away for the purpose. The boom should be made iu two pieces, their ends boing confined together by the jaws at the inboard-end, and at the opposite, or outboard-emi, by the plate, to which is secured the shaft hereiubefore mentioned. This shaft should be secured between the two parts of the boom, between wmhich a suticient space should be left for Vthe purpose. A guide, clasping and guiding the bolt-rope of the after-leachof the sail, is secured to a proper cross-head, working in suitable slides on the boom, by which means, as the sail is rolled upon the tubo in reeiing, the said sail is kept taut, amlcompelled to wind smoothly around the tube. The boom may be built of any material suitable to the purpose.

Having thus described the nature, I will now pro- 'ceed to name and describe its various parts and their operation, as shown in the drawings.

A, in4 the drawings, represents the boom, made of two pieces, secured, as hereinbeibre described, to the jaw B, at the inboard-end, and to the plate C at the outboard-end. tion of this boom, to leave a space between the two parts suliiciently wide to allow ofthe meting-apparatus to work between them.

D is a stationary shaft, the inboard-end secured to and through the jaw B, while the outboard-end is secured to and through the plate G. lhe position of this shaft is between the two parts composing the boom.

E is a hollow tube sleeved upon the stationary shaft D, andto its iuboard-end is secured the gear-wheel F, to which motion is given by engaging with the worm-screw and crank G.

To thistube is fastened the bottom of the sail, H, in such a manner that when a rotary motion'is given to the sleeved tube, the lower endv of the sail will be wound upon the tube, thereby reeng the sail, and doing away with the necessity of reef-points, of hauling the sail aft, or throwing the vessel into the wind to enable the operators to reef the sail by the common Way.

I is a guide, so constructed as to grasp the bolt-rope J of the after-leach of the sail, and is secured to the cross-head K, which moves and operates in the slides L, which are attached, one to each side of the boom.

N are ropes attached to thev rear side of the crossreef afore-aud-att sail, the throat and peakehalyards should be slackened up as much as necessary, and the sail wound upon the tube by the crank, screw, and wheel E. rlhe lilies N should also be cast off at the mast, when the guide will hold the bolt-rope and sail taut, and compel them to wind smoothly around the tube, the guide advancing upon the slides as fast as the inclination of the bolt-rope demands. After as much sail has been reefedas is necessary, the halyards may be tautened. When it is desired to make all sail again, the sail should be unwound from the tube by reversing the motion of the crank, hauling upon the halyards to take up the slackened sail, and, by means Care should be taken, in the construcof' the ropes N, hauling the guide and cross-head back to its original position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. The guide I, cross-head K, and slides L, or their equivalents, when operating substantially for the purpose herein specified.

2. In connection with the above, the boom A, sta

tionary shaft D, sleeved tube E, geared Wheel F, and crank and worm-screw G, or their equivalents, when arranged, constructed, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

ROBERT CHAMBERS. Witnesses:

L. O. HYDE, H. F. EBERTS. 

